Wetting device



New. 3, 1936., w. H. ROSE I 2,059,748

WETTI'NG DEVICE Filed March 24, 1936 INVENTOR. hxau KM ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED ST 11 Claims.

My invention relates to wetting devices and refers particularly to devices adapted for attachment to liquid containers to allow of the application of said liquid to surfaces within defined surface limitations.

Many devices have been suggested for this purpose, the greater number of which possess undesirable attributes which prevent of their practical and economical application.

It has been suggested that applicators composed of liquid absorbent materials such as sponge rubber, felt and other similar materials be employed for this purpose, but these have not proved completely satisfactory for many reasons, among which are the following: the absorbent property of the material allows of a large exposure of absorbent liquid to atmospheric evaporation during non-use, thus causing a loss of liquid; the complete closure of the pores of the material upon the evaporation of the liquid in mucilaginous so lutions, thus rendering them inoperative; the impossibility of producing a clearly defined line of wetting due to the softness and excessive compressibility of the material during operation, and the wearing away of the material during use.

Soft rubber applicators have been suggested but these have been of such construction that a proper pressure upon the liquid within the container has not been possible to obtain and maintain, with the result that the amount of liquid deposited upon a surface has been either insufficient or excessive and has resulted in uneven, and at times objectionable, amounts of liquid depositions.

The devices of my invention overcome the above mentioned, and other, objectionable features of such former devices and presents a wetting device, in which there is no evaporation during non-use, in which the material is non-absorbent and hence not rendered inoperative because of the clogging of the pores, which is of suflicient stiffness to allow of a clearly limited line of wetting and which is of such construction that a uniform pressure can be obtained and maintained upon the liquid within a container to produce a uniform flow of liquid without altering the surface of wetting.

These, and other, novel and advantageous features of my devices will be evident upon a consideration of my specification and its accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating modified forms of the device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a prospective view of one form of my device applied to a liquid container.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section through the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of my device.

Figure 4. is a vertical section through another modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is an end View of the device of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through another modified form of my device.

Figure 7 is a view of a modified form of my device, partly in section.

The particular form of the device of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a cylindrical base it, opposite sides of which are beveled to form the' faces M, H and the applicator face member 52, the latter having a plurality of apertures I3, l3, therethrough. The lower portion of the base IE3 is extended out- J ward M, then downwardly l5 and inwardly it, thus forming a recess into which the extended lip ll of the neck it of the container It may be inserted, thus maintaining my device upon the container.

The base if! of the modified form of my device illustrated in Figure 3 has the outwardly extended fiange 2t and the downwardly extended annular member 2 l capable of being inserted within the neck 22 of a container, thus maintaining my device upon the container.

The modified form of my device illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that each of the members H, H has a horizontal elongated recess 23 for purposes described later.

The modified form of my device illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the two members H, H are gradually reduced in thickness causing the applicator face member l2 to be comparatively thin for purposes described later.

In the modified form of my device illustrated in Figure 6 the base 24 is cylindrical instead of the pyramidal base it of Figures 4 and 5, the other elements being similar to those of Figures 4 and 5.

My device is composed of a compressible, waterimpermeable, somewhat soft, non-absorbent, pliable, resilient material, preferably of a somewhat pliable rubber composition, thus preventing any escape of the liquid within the container except through the apertures in the applicator face member. By this construction the exterior faces of 55 the device are kept free from the liquid of the container, thus insuring cleanliness which is particularly desirable if the liquid is of a mucilaginous nature.

It is evident that in devices of this character the capillary capacity of the apertures is not sufficient to allow of the proper flow of the liquid when the container is reversed and hence it is necessary that an increased pressure be produced upon the liquid, and this is accomplished in my device because of the pliability and compressibility of the material, the adaptation of such pressure being augmented by the constructions illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6.

When the container is reversed and the applicator face member I2 of the devices illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is brought to bear upon the surface desired to be moistened with a slight pressure, the pyramidal-like construction of the device will allow of an outward movement of the members I I, II causing the applicator face member I2 to move inwardly toward the container, the extent of such movement being dependent upon the pressure upon the surface to be wetted, thus causing an increased flow of liquid through the aperture I3, I3.

In the form of my device illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, because of the thinner walls of the members I I, I I caused by the recesses 23, 23, that portion of the device from the recesses 23, 23 to the applicator face member I2 will be readily moved inwardly during use, thus causing a pressure upon the liquid without materially affecting the position of those portions of the members II, ll between the recesses 23, 23 and the base II).

In the form of my device illustrated in Figure 6, a similar effect is produced to that of the device shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pressure being caused by the inner movement of the extremities of the members II, II and the applicator face member I2, without materially affecting the position of the base portion of the members I I, I I.

The same effect is produced by the device shown in Figure 7 as that produced by the device shown in Figures 4 and 5.

It is evident that a suitable removable cover can be employed with my device if desired.

The constructions illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 are of particular value as they allow of the production of a desired flow of liquid while maintaining a comparatively rigid applicator thus making it possible to produce a more uniform wetted surface than is possible with an applicator in which the entire construction varies with the amount of pressure upon the surface to be wetted.

It will thus be seen that my invention presents a wetting device having many valuable features among which is the prevention of evaporation of the liquid when not in use, the ejection of a desired amount of liquid and the ability to producea uniform line of moisture upon the article to which it is applied.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, arrangement or material of parts as shown and described as these are given simply as a means for clearly describing my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

2. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are diminishing in thickness and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

3. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which have a horizontal recess therein and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

4. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which have a horizontal recess therein, are diminishing in thickness and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

5. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member being thinner than any other portion of said device and having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

6. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are diminishing in thickness and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member being thinner than any other portion of said device and having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

'7. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which have a horizontal recess therein and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member being thinner than any other portion of said device and having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

8. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which have a horizontal recess therein, are diminishing in thickness and are inclined toward each other and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said applicator face member being thinner than any other portion of said device and having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

9. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are diminishing in thickness and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

10. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which are diminishing in thickness and have a horizontal recess therein and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said face member having a plurality of normally open apertures through the face thereof.

11. In a wetting device, in combination, a compressible, water-impervious, non-absorbent, flexible resilient member adapted to be attached to the neck of a container, the sides of which have a horizontal recess therein and an exposed applicator face member connecting terminals of said sides, said face member having a plurality of 10 normally open apertures through the face thereof.

WILLIAM H. ROSE. 

